A former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress, just two weeks after resigning from the opposition party.
Jandor announced his decision at a press conference held at his campaign office in Ikeja on Monday, marking his return to the ruling party he once left in a bid to challenge its dominance in Lagos politics.
His defection comes after a series of consultations with key political figures, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Ibrahim Babangida, and former Head of State Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar.
Confirming the meeting with Tinubu, Jandor’s spokesperson, Gbenga Ogunleye, stated, “I can confirm that Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran Jandor met with President Bola Tinubu on Monday (last week). He has earlier met with Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the SDP in the 2023 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, among other prominent national leaders. It is part of his ongoing consultation after his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party.”
He added that PDP leaders, including the party’s national secretary, had reached out to Jandor in an attempt to persuade him to reconsider his resignation.
Jandor, a former APC member and founder of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, had left the ruling party to contest the 2023 Lagos governorship election under the PDP banner. His campaign, which featured Nollywood actress Funke Akindele as his running mate, aimed to present him as a fresh alternative to APC rule in the state.
However, despite his efforts, he finished behind both Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Labour Party candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour in the election.
